Mixing valve having accessible pressure equalizing means



May 10, 1949. .1.r FRASER 2,470,025

MIXING VALVE HAVING ACCESSIBLE PRESSURE EQUALIZING MEANS Filed March l5, 1948 2`Sheets-S'heet l ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. FRASER V ,A ACCESSIBLE S` MEANS May l0, 1949.

E A ING E LIZING Filed March 15, 1948 INVENTOR JAMES FRAS ER Y jam/Mw ATTORNEY Patented May 10, 1949 MIXING VALVE HAVING ACCESSIBLE PRESSURE EQUALIZING MEANS James Fraser, Wilmington,

Del., assignor to Speakman Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application March 15, 1948, Serial No. 14,986

3 Claims.

tions from varying the relative amounts of Ythe two fluids included in the mixture formed when said mechanism is given a particular adjustment.

A mixing valve of the above-mentioned type nds its principal field of use in supplying hot and cold water mixtures to showerheads at temperatures controlled by valve adjustments made by the user. As is well known, the inclusion in such a valve of a pressure equalizing mechanism operative to compensate for variations in the hot and cold water supply pressures, greatly reduces the risk that the user will be scalded as a result of a sudden reduction in the pressure at which the cold water is supplied to the mixing valve, such as is apt to occur with considerable frequency.

When a mixing valve including a pressure responsive element of the above-mentioned character is used with water containing impurities which deposit on the wall of the chamber in which the pressure responsive valve element works, said element is apt to stick and become cemented to the wall of the said chamber, and be thereby made inoperative to compensate for variations in the relative supply pressures of the fluids to be measured. The position which the pressure responsive element will occupy when it sticks is fortuitous and may be such that the water discharged by the mixing valve will consist entirely -of hot water or entirely of cold water, or will be a mixture having a temperature quite different from the desired temperature which the adjustment of the mixing valve would produce if the pressure equalizing mechanism were in its normal condition.

In my prior application, Serial No. 722,863, led January 18, 1947, I have disclosed various forms of mixing valves of the character above described,

each including structural provisions permitting the removal of the valve element of the pressure yequalizing mechanism without disassembling the 'general mixing valve structure. In consequence,

the pressure equalizing valve may be readily inspected, cleaned or replaced by a similar valve element invbetter condition, or by a replacement element which permits the mixing valve to operate in the manner in which it would operate if it had no pressure equalizing provisions, as may be desirable in some cases. In said prior application, the chamber in which the pressure equalizing valve element works is like a well in that it extends into the mixing valve structure from one side of the latter, and is like a well in having its inner or bottom end permanently closed.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement of pressure equalizing mechanism in a mixing valve structure adapted to facilitate the removal and replacement of the movable valve element of the mechanism when desirable. More specically, the object of the invention is to provide a mixing valve arrangement including the chamber in which a pressure equalizing valve element is mounted for axial movement which is so formed and disposed that each end of said chamber may be readily opened for the removal of said valve element and for the inspection of said chamber.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particu'- larity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, its advantages and specific objects attained with its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a mixing valve;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation, at right angles to Fig. 1,

"of a separable block element of the valve structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the block element shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with its left half portion in section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a view taken similarly to Fig. 5 illustrating a modied pressure equalizing arrangement.

In Figs. 1-5 I have illustrated a mixing valve structure embodying a preferred form of the present invention, and comprising a chambered valve housing or body A and a separable housing bonnet portion B detachably connected by screws B' to one end of the valve body. In Fig. 2 the valve is shown in an upright position with the bonnet B above the valve body A and with the valve spindle M vertically disposed and extending upward through a tubular bushing portion B2 of the bonnet B, and carrying a handle M at its upper end. For convenience of description, the valve structure will be described as though the upright valve position shown in Fig. 2 were the usual or normal position. In fact, the valve is commonly used with the valve spindle horizontally disposed and withfthe lower portion of the valve structure as seen in Fig. 2, embedded in a vertical wall in which the hereinafter mentioned pipes connected to the valve body are concealed.

The valve body A `is formed Vadjacent', its lower end with cold and hot water inlet chambers C and D, respectively, and with tubular internally threaded portions C and D for 4th'le connection to the valve body of hot and cold water supply pipes (not shown), which supply water to the chambers C and D, respectively. The valve body comprises a main cylindrical wall portion surrounding a discharge or outlet chamber E and is formed with a -tubul'arportion E internally threaded for the attachment to the valve body of apipe (not shown) through which water may pass ylrom the mixing valve to a showerhead or otherdevice to which water is to be supplied at s. regulated temperature. The discharge chamber E is of annular shape and has its inner wall formed by the cylindrical body portion Vof a charnbered valveblock member The lower end of the block .F abu-ts'against a horizontal wall portion A Iof `the valve body-which forms-theupper walls of the .supply chambers C' and rD. The blockwl1 is formed with an loutturned flange F" .at its upper end, The flange .,F extends over an annular upwardly facing upper `end lportieri of the valve body A, directly above the upper edge of the annular discharge chamber The block F is detaehably secured-to the valve body A lby clamping bolts or screws G `having their threaded lower ends screwed .into threaded :sockets formed Vin the wall A. Gasket material may be used in customary-manner to insure tight joints between the lower end of the block F and the wall A', andbetween the flangeF and the adjacent upper end portion of `the valve body.

Side .by side, vertically disposed, cylindrical valve chambers Hand I are formed in the block F., and respectively receive longitudinally movable piston valve members yJ and K. The valve mem- @bers J .and K extend upwardly out of the block F .into the space between .said block and the bonnet B, and are detachably connected to a common yoke or connecting member L in .saidspaca The member `L is swivel connected to the lower end of thefthreaded vaive spindle M which passes through the internally threaded'bushingportion .B2 of the bonnetfandhasitsupper end connected to the valve handle .M. The lower ends of the valve chambers H and I are restricted in cross vsection to form hot and cold water inlet ports h and i. The portsh and i communicate withthe lsu-biacent inlet chambersf'C and D, respectively, through openings formed inthe wall .Afin` register with said ports. 'The `valve members J and K have valve washers a and 7c secured yto their -lfower :ends vto `engage valve seats 'sur- `rounding the upper .ends of :the ports rh and z' respectively, when-the valve members J vand K are in their'closed positions, as shown .in Fig. 2.

VV-hen the valve handle M is .rotated in thev opening :direction'the valve-members J :and K -arefmoved-laway from and open the ports h and maal, an initial movement-:of the valve members J and K away from their closed positions establishes communication between the cold water inlet chamber C and the discharge chamber E. As the movement of the valve members away from their closed positions continues, communication between the hot water supply chamber D and the discharge chamber lE `is established. As the movement of Athe valve vmembers away from their closed positions continues, the valve .member J throttles and eventually closes communication between the cold water inlet chamber C and the discharge chamber E, while the valve member K is gradually increasing the flow between the hot water inlet chamber and the ydischarge chamber E to a maximum.

The path of iow between the chambers C and E comprises a channel I formed in the block adjacent its lower end and transverse to, and open at one end to the Valve chamber H. The channel I communicates through a transverse channel 2 with a channel y3 parallel to and alongside the valve chamber H, as shown in Figs. 4 and .5. As .is 4shown in Fig. A5, the upper end of the channel 3 is normal-ly in communication with the upper end of a channel -4 through a segregated portion of a horizontal pressure balancing valve chamber N formed in the block 1F above its nange F. The channel 4 is parallel to and adjacent .the upper portion of Ithe valve chamber H, .and .communicates with the latter through .transverse `ports yor channels .5 and 5 v.atgreater and lesser distances respectively from the 'lower end of the block F. At the opposite side of the valve chamber H from the channels 4or ports -5 and .5', ports G and v6' are formed inthe block F through which the valve chamber Hmay'oommunicate with the discharge chamber E. The-block `member F is formed with channels or `ports 1, 8, 9,10, H, H.,

opens Vand closes communication vwith the cold I Vwater supply chamber :C and the channel :3, 'and between the hot water supply chamber D yand the channel l). As will be observed, the valve spindle .M is at one side, andthe channels`3, A4, 9 -and :ID are at the opposite side of :a plane parallel to the axes of the channe1s'3,'4, 9 and 10 and extending between said channels and the valve chambers `H and I. The `communication between the chan- .nels 3 and 4 and th-e communication between the channels S and `If) are normally subjected to inverse throttling eiects on 'variations .in the `.relative values of the cold :and hot water supply pressures, by a pressure balancing valve O in the valve chamber N. The operation fof 'the `yalve O is hereinafter explained.

The fact that the gradual adjustment of the valve members J and K away from their yclosed positions first initiates the discharge oi cold water, and then produces the discharge `of a mixture including a vhot water component which tends to increase, and a .cold lwater component which tends to decrease in magnitude as the opening movement ofthe valve'members J and K away from their closed position hprogresses, results from the formation of now spaces or channels .i3 and i4 in the valve memberJ `andfitiowfspaces v5 or channels I5 and I6 in the valve member K, and from the disposition of the channels I3, I4, I5 and I6 relative to one another and relative to the previously mentioned channels 5, 5', 6 and 6', II, II', I2 and I2.

As shown, each of the channels I3 and I4 in the valve member J is in the form of a peripheral groove. The grooves or flow passages I3 and I4 are so located along the length of the valve member J that when the latter is in or near its closed position, the groove I3 provides communication through the valve chamber H between the channels 5 and 6, and the groove I4 establishes cornmunication between the channels 5 and 6'. As will be apparent from Figs. 2 and 3, as the valve member J approaches and then moves into its wide open position, it reduces and eventually closes communication between the passages 4 and 'the outlet chamber E. As is clearly indicated in Fig. 2, movement of the valve member K progressively away from its closed position moves the grooves I5 and I6 first into partial, and then into full register with the discharge ports I2 and I2. In effect, the channels 5, I3 vand 6 are duplicates of the flow spaces or ports 5', I4 and 6', and the channels II, I5 and I2 are duplicates of the channels II', I6 and I2', respectively. In each case, the duplication facilitates the formation of `a ow path of suitably large maximum crosssectional area between the corresponding chanperature of the mixture passing through the outf let chamber E, by the previously mentioned pres- 'sure equalizing valve O.

In the form shown, the valve O is of the floating piston type comprising a central piston portion I'I and piston portions I3 and 20 at opposite sides of, and spaced away from the piston portion I1. The piston portions I8 and 20 are respectively connected to the piston portion I'I by co-aXial tubular portions I9 and 2l, respectively, of the valve O, which are smaller in diameter than said pistons, each of the latter having a sliding fit in the cylindrical valve chamber N. As is shown in Fig. 5, the water pressure in the annular portion I9' of the chamber N surrounding the piston portion I9, is transmitted to the right end of the chamber N through an axial piston channel 2| which is open at its right end and communicates with said annular portion I9' of the chamber N through radial ports 22 in the tubular valve portion I9. Similarly, the pressure in the annular space 2 I surrounding the tubular portion 2! of the valve O is transmitted to the left end of the chamber N through radial ports 23 formed in the tubular valve portion 2| and through the bore of said tubular portion which is open at its left end. To permit inspection and replacement of the Valve O, the ends of the valve chamber N are provided with removable closures N' shown as threaded into the ends of said chamber. To facilitate the removal and replacement 'of the valve O, the latter is provided with open ended tubular extensions 24 and 25 at its opposite ends.

The valve O with its extensions 24 and 25 is of greater length than the chamber N, and each closure member N is elongated and formed with a cavity having an internal diameter somewhat greater than the external diameter of the corresponding extension which extends into the cavity. In the normal condition of the mixing valve mechanism, the end closures N' for the pressure equalizing chamber N are within the space enclosed by the bonnet B. To permit the removal and replacement of the closures N', a separate opening substantially coaxial with each closure part N normally closed by a corresponding closure element P, is formed in the rim portion of the bonnet member B, but each of said openings is somewhat larger in diameter than the corresponding closure part N and is normally closed by a corresponding removable closure part P. Each closure part P may be generally similar in form to, but is of greater diameter than the adjacent closure part N', as is shown in Fig. 2. When either closure part P is disconnected from the bonnet B, the corresponding closure part N' is exposed. Preferably, the parts are so proportioned and arranged that with either closure part P and the adjacent closure part N' removed, the corresponding extension portion 25 or 26 of the valve member O will extend through the rim opening in the bonnet into position in which it may be grasped by the hand of the operator.

Unless there is a total failure of one or the other of the hot and cold water supply pressures, the valve O does not move into a position in which it entirely closes communication between the channels 3 and 4 through the valve chamber space I8', or into a position in which it entirely closes communication between the channels 9 and I0 through the valve chamber space 2|. However, on an increase or -decrease in the cold waterr supply pressure relative to the hot water supply pressure, the valve O moves in one direction or the other as required to so inversely throttle communication between channels 3' and 4 and between the channels 9 and I0 as to maintain equality between the hot and cold water pressures in the valve chamber spaces I9 and 2|. In the form shown in Fig. 5, the inverse throttling effects of the valve O are produced on longitudinal movements of the valve by the varying throttling actions of the pistons I8 and 20 on the restricted ports 3 and 3 respectively,

. through which the channels 3 and 9 communicate with the valve chamber spaces I9' and 2l', respectively. With the arrangement described, the fluid pressures per unit area acting in opposite directions on the piston I8 are equal, as are the pressures per unit area acting in opposite directions on the piston 20.

In normal operation the valve O thus serves to maintain a pressure in the chamber N at each side of the piston I'I which is substantially equal to the lowermost of the pressures in the two channels 3 and 9, so that the pressures in the channels 4 and III are normally equal, notwithstanding the inequality of the pressures in the channels 3 and 9. With equal pressures in the channels 4 and III and with constant cold and hot Water supply temperatures, the Vertical adjustment of the valves J and K, which gives a desired exit water temperature with the then existing hot and cold water supply pressures, will maintain that water delivery temperature notwithstanding ordinary '.fariations in the cold water supply pressure relative to the hot water supply temperaturcVso long as the pressure balancing valve O is in its normal operative condition.

In the use of a mixing valve having an automatic pressure equalizing mechanism operating in the general manner described above, there is a tendency of the floating pressure equalizing valve to stick in the valve chamber in which it 9 10 3. A mixing valve as specified in claim 2, in UNITED STATES PATENTS which the axis of said pressure equalizing chamberlies in a plane to which each of said cold and Nuggellu Assnlnmne JuneDZai-elglo hot water valve chambers is perpendicular. 1 508938 Powers Sept 16. 1924 5 2501815 Egg June 29J 1941 JAMES FRASER' 2,277,314 Gallagher Mar. 4, 1942 REFERENCES CITED 2,308,127 Symmons Jan. 12, 1943 The following references are of record in the n le of this patent: 

